Direct-return valve for steam-heating systems.



W. HUATH.

DIRECT RETURN VALVE Foa sEAM Hmmm; SYSTEMS.

lat'ntml .Tune 4, 1918.

2 SHEETSMSHLET l.

am aa// APPLICATION ILED MAY 2B. 1311.

@ERB

W18. ROMH` mmm RUUHN VALVE ma swam HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATSON FILED WIM/28,191?. 1,268,280.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June 4, 1918.

WILLIAM S. HATH, 0F AKHN, HI.

` "BECTRETUEN VALVE FOR STEATYLHETIHG SYSTEMS.

Specioaticn et Lettera atent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Application lled Hay 2B, i917. S-erlai No. Zlll T0 all whom it may Concern:

Be it known that l, iflnimnzu' l'ifza'rra'a citizen of the United States, residin at Akron, in the county of Summit and tate of Ohio, have invented new and usefui lmrovements in Direct-Return Valves for team-Heating Svstems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in direct return traps for steam heat ig- Systems and theobjeet of the invention .fw

i'ovide a valve arranged for inee'rpora 1D. a heating system andv pclssesfing the fune;- tion of controlling the return of the water formed by the condensation of the steam in the system to the boiler irrespective of the ,pressm'e in the latter.

As is Well known it frequently ha pens that the steam pressure in a hea-ting oiler is so great that pro er return drainage of the system is impossi le and hence a suitable controlling valve is necessary. More specically my invention comprises a valve casv ing in association with a tank orreservoir,

the latter in open communication. with the drainage pipe of the heating system and with said valve casing. The reservoir con tains a float for controlling the operation of the valve. The valve casing is provided with a vent open to the atmosphere when the reservoir is filling. The interior of the casing is also in communication with the main steam line of the system. ln the casing is a steam valve and also a vent controlling valve coupled together .and arranged to ysimultaneously be operated by thefioat, said valves arranged when shifted into one posi.l tion to open the steam inlet and close the vent opening, said valves arranged when in their other or opposite position to open the vent and close the steam inlet.

Furthermore, the valves are so disposed that when the steam valve .is moved to its closed position the pressure of the steam in the system aids and assists the other mechanism in holding the steam valve securely in its seat and in its operative position.

With theforegoing and other objects inl-view`, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement pf.parts constituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described and illus trated in the accompanying drawings which form a. part hereof wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, hut it is to be midertood that changes, variations and mmliieatens can. he resortmi lo which come within the @cope of the matter herein after claimed.

In the drawings in which similar refer-- ence numerals indicate like parts inthe different figures,

Figure ,l view in side eievation and, partly in sect-ion, oi' a va ive embodying the present invention..

Fis* a notional vxv.' ttf ,Vig 1. A

.l view nl: the waive ont? "spaghetti, and

g. aromatic vier oi n .ste iieatlg system. with the valve ieri-ning snijeet metter ci, the present in ventitm oorporated therein..

The valve of the present invention is de signed for incorporation in a heating sys tem and; in Fig. 4 is shown diagrammatieally a simple form of heating system to show the connection of the valve with the system.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 denotes an ordinary heatin boiler from which extends a mam steam .ine or pipe from which Fentend-s a branch il connected to a radiator 4. The connection of the 'pi pproni f pe is preferably; of. one end of the radiator a e. the opposite and inner end portion of the radiatm is provided with a check valve o from 'which lends a f irainege pipe 6 con-- meeting with the lower part of the boiier. .ln the pipe 6 is a cheek valve '7. Also comme nicatng with the drainage pipe 6 is a branch pipe 8 establishing communication with a. reservoir 9 and in this branch pipe is a con trolling valve 10. Mounted on the reservoir 9 is a. direct return valve 11 and extending between the valve and 'the main steam line is a pipe 12 provided with a controlling valve 13. From the lower portion of the reservoir 9 extends a pipe 14 communicating With the pipe 6 and provided with a check valve 15. The device which forms the primary feature, of the present invention embodies a` reservoir 9 the upper portion of which is pro-` vided with a convexed enlargement 3.7, and with an interiorly threaded boss 18 which receives the lower threaded hollow sten` if! of the valve 11. One wall 20 of the reservoir is provided with a threaded boss 21 to receive the threaded end of the branch pipe Bleeding from the drainage pipe 6.' This wall 2? is preferahiv integral with the main body of the reservoir and the opprste open end of the reservoir is closed by means of a head 22, held in position by ordinary cap screws or bolts 23 and is adapted to form a hermetically ti ht union with the end of the reservoir 9. .referably formed integrally with the head 22 is a hollonv bracket 24 provided in one Wall near its outer free end with a bearing 25 and in the other wall opposite to the bearing 25 w`..h a threaded opening which receives a packing gland 26 the packing gland and bearing 25 constituting means for supporting a rotatable shaft 27. lt may be stated that the interior of the hollow bracket 24 is in open. communication with the interior of the reservoir 9. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 27 within the hollow bracket is a hub 28 to which is secured a stem 29 bearing at its outer-end a float 30 so positioned that when moved to its upper position it is received in the enlargement 17 and when moved to its lower position it is positioned near the lower wall of the reservoir 9.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 27 is an arm 3l having an offset `portion 32 which constitutes an abutment or lug for a purpose to be later described. Extending upvvardlj,7 iroln the ollset portion is an integral por tion 33 hearing a counter-weight The arm 3l. also has oppositely disposed arms both of which are arcuately formed and both provided at their ends with lugs 36 having threaded apertures to receive adjustin0r screws 37. The inner ends of these adjusting screws are disposed a considerable distance apart and the adjusting sivews are held in determinate positions by means of, locking nuts 38.

Fixedly secured against independent revolutiou, by means of a key 39, on the shaft 27 and outside oi the arm 3l is a tappi-.t 40, V-shaped in side elevation and com )rising two arms 4l and 42 the outer ends o .-which are provided with heads 4? provided with threaded apertures to receive adjusting screws il. and these adjusting screws mayl be held in determinate positions by locking nuts of ordinary construction. The tappet 4D is adapted to-be rocked intermittingly whenever the Boat 3() is raised or lowered and the otlset portion 32 or abutmentis arranged to lie in the path of movement of the arms 4l and 42 as they oscillate to move the arm 33 and rounterweight 34. The oscillation of he arm 33 also oscillates the two arcuate arms 65.

Preferably formed integrally with the head 22 and positioned above the hollow bracket 2i are a pairof complementary brackets 50 through the outer ends of which extends a bolt 5l constitutingr a pivot for a lever 52, the upper end of which 1s provided with a head 53 having a suitable aperture to receive a pivot pin 54. The lower end 55 of the lever 52 is arranged to lie in the path of movement of the set screws 37 on the arcuate arms 35. The valve casing 1l comprises an outer wall or casing 56 approximately cylindrical in cross section and provided in its upper portion with an interorly threaded upwalilly-projecting boss 57 to receive the lower threaded end of a vent pipe 58. Below the boss 57 is a chamber 59 provided with end walls 60 and 6l. The wall 6l is provided with a valve seat 62 and the other wall with nu opening constituting a hearingr for a valvislicn'i 6? to be more fullyY described. The wall 5G of the valve casing provided as shown, at the right end in Fier. 3S. with n projecting chambered boss fiel separated from the interior 65 of the casing by a partition 66 containing an opening provided Ywith a valve seat 67 which is-in alinement with the opening'62 in the wall 61. The end Wall 68 of the boss is provided with a threaded opening' to receive the end of the steam inlet pipe l2. The op- I posite end of the valve casing 'li formed with. a wall 6.) containing an interiorly tl'ireaded aperture boss TO arranged to re* caire a nu: 7l which is )gnovided with a threaded opei'lingl for the reception of a packing gland 72, for the valve Stem 63.

Mounted in the packing gland 72 and the opening in the Wall 60 as bearings is a valve stem 63 which comprises two niembers 73 and 7-l in alinement with each other and approximately of equal diameter and ot similar conformation. The two are united by providin -a threaded central re cess in the member 3 and With a projecting complemental threaded stem on the end of the member 74 for coupling the two mem` bers of the valve steni 63 together when the threaded stem is screwed into the recess in the member 73. The member 7 3 is rovided with a threaded outer end to which is coupled a hiifurcated head 75 through which extends the pivot pin 54 'for pivotally coupling the head 75 to the lever The end of the member 7l is provided with a valve 76 adapted to seat on the valve seat 67 for closing the passage from the pipe 12 to the interior 64 of' the valve casing 11. Positioned on 'the valve stem 63 and near the point Where the two members 73 and 74 are coupled together is a vent valve 87. The position of the two valves .76 and 77 is such that when the steam valve 76 is in its oper ative or closed position the vent valve 77 is in its inoperative or open position and the reverse of this is true. that is to say, when the vent valve 77 is in its closed position the steam valve 76 is in its open position. For convenience in assemblin and dismounting the valve stem 7 6 is provi ed With a grooved lug 78 to receive a Screw driver for rotating the member 74.

In the operation of the device the products of condensation from the heating system Lrepresented by the radiator 4 pass the check vulve?) and. by means of the drainage pipa l return to liflioiler l. paesi, the fzlmck valve 7 undur normal] mmdibluns, but in Gase of excessive prossime in lille limiting sjlzm suflcimlt lo prevent Ilm relum of tlm 'wndensml walml'rnm the healing sylx-,m 'tb the boiler recmnse iff. ,hall i0 lille wlurn valve which :Forms tlw- Subject?matter uf the pves mit invention. 'llm npwulllm of lille vulve is :1c-i follows: Qatar wmlemfiad liy tlm limit-- ing system How@ on by m ms the 'pipva 8 t0 the reservoir 9 Wllif'll isi permitted by reason of the fxerlilllail` alle valve 87 ign ils open mr' inoperative .piiliou permlil'lg al1,- crmiainwl in the rfusew'ir 'il t@ pnmrnllt Wiu'dly through tlm clmmllei 55? amel vont 58, The, llmil im i5: wf Hal by; 'xixurmlliliml watm and thmilgfli iis :,3 will; tlm shaft operato@ ilifvwflvfi'fgi fsu' rQlrv-v ing tlw reservoir rif the u mmulalvf willen ln the drawing; the :wm il?, n ying; izlw muntcrweiglit 3G; if if: im alim Tsricn PNlion with filip swam vasff' i I" :i

pnsilfim: and willi gli will, wlw in im; ali pnsilfmn The premium @l lili@ slegali in lh@ pipe 'l2 'wnds rui-."1 naisli in, klzepfzg stom-n vulve 76 Securely swzi'P-fl fm 'lm sont 6l' to tha-Eby prevail' the pi'eisurf: of tlm Stimm from pngsiigg imo the inl/@rim (55 'olf the valve casing und from ilu lat-:e m the inw rior 0f' 'elle xesezrif'r l). EHU-ther m'alumua- 'tiem nl Water in tlm www* Y 9 wlwe tlm HGM; 30 sullicently t0 cause, ila@ arm 4l (if llm tappet 40 to force the mm nvei: :my @19ml center mid causes il: lo im@ lille prmitinn inrlicalzml in dotted lianes ir; l? 313 uml imlisalad by elle latter" This mmfemfmt 0i* 0,. 'Nation of lille. atm :es lill@ annule arms; 35 lo umm il; unison llerfiwh sind t mnvng Hw, vent valve l?? t@ i'i f; parigition uml H19 steam valve 76 to 'mi open postion. This mnvemnt of ll'm two valves closes the vent from, the reservoir 9 throw. li. theA vom: pipe 5S and admits stream frgm t e pipe l2 past lh@ valve samt. G7 intr; the reiser-v voir 9 :mel the pressure of the steam in the system @stirring through the pipe, 12 forces tlw waiter in the reservoir 9 outmvulfll," through the dmlmigpipe .ll past tlm .ilmls valve l5 infn flip lower pmtion of l'lm boi'lm'. When sulmantially all of' the Water in the rusvrvoizl) has been drained therefrom the float 3() 'will aSSuIm-f :ipl'nnxirnfifely the p0 sillon chown in flatbed lines in Fig. Il and tlm Stem 29 of the 'zile will asSume the posillon shown. in dotted lines; in Figs. 1 und E. The downward movement of the float 30 by, means of the siem 29 :ml the shaft Qi, will piove the tappet 10i to the, lel'l; in Fig l, @missing 0am of the Sel @Wea 44 lin vmgffagu the abutment 31'? and sn l'- llio poilii'lfi nf sition slmwl'l in (intimi lines and designated my tlm relevance latter Thig movement of lliv mmnarweiglilul umn 53, t0 ihqright in Fig. L will musa one of' the Het. Screws 37 in engage thv lfwmx' nml 5).'1 0f tlm lever 52 and Shift il', lm illu msxitimi shown in Fig, 3 and thereby leise t'flif. steam valveh, 76 and hift the vent; vulve 8T to its open nnpmultim pus-illu thereby plsalntting the ejli'iiivssgf nl the products; 0l mmflnsaton fil-mn alle @www ln'to lli? reservoir 9 and tlm wnlm' when lili@ mrsm'voiz is fllcrl Will raise tlm float 3U m itfi operative posit-ion to therelij; lignin lisullutn the lvver 33 amd shift the valves zu; has been llerelnfore defsciibed. It will lm pninmll out that, Wlmn the Wter in lll@ iwwmi' lull ireac'flwfl appmxim ly the iwal. .ilioma in l tlm cmmtervfmgtecl. .lvyser 2li# il; qllwist mgfiexrliculm -aml any *lier imire'asse ul' 'water in." rhe reservoir will mtr-,n lm llnnl, 1Z0 sullicenily ttc causa thv firm 4l :if the tappa? l-[l to shift, to the if@ Fig, l, nml for@ L-i'unlerweight in gmini. n, verlical mail riler nllbW- n ,Fall fm lm righi' and iiln the posi.- niflznzimfl in doti-ml lines and designated the lezte Il in mfrle to assemble or to flisnmnle valve mechanism contained in *lla Casin lull@ pipa l and lili@ mit '11 are renamed will a, www drlvza' applied to tho lug F5 :md lille ffm? `iffiezl'liw and 74 are disacmmmiell 151 iaf-:ilvillg the latter after wllicl'i the, mvmbzrl T4 lfm); be *Withdraw through lle mening cmxmning th@ end of the pipe 12 amil the member "F3 carrying' the vulva I??? iimm'evl tlumlgli the opening cluxaml by ille um Tl sin that Easy means are nilowleagl ll'lr :1&1 Enabling ille 'valve or fnl dif manifling cliff mms-:e fm' amy purpose l claim,

l, A dire@ mmm mlm for a` steam hating sjiem Qomjpris 21g :1A msevinr conncted will; alla wlzfafnagigA pipe if Said System anti )'ii'ovided with a pipe leading to the boiler, a valve casing in open communication with said reservoir, said valve casing provided with an inlet for gtkmm under presure and a vent, u hollmv bracket pojecting from said reservoir and im open @minimisation with "the interim ther-enf, a rotatable member mounted in the nul-.er mul of said bracket, n. float in mir] reservoir. a sham on said final, confirmed with said rotatable member, a wcigliterl arm lonsel mounted on said rotatable number, shaped Atnppet rigidly mmmerl on Said rotatable member and disposed so @hat the iircntions thereof albernately engage said arm for oscillating the same in direct response to the vertical oscillalximis 0l said lioat, si valve Stem mountd in Sfaisfl valve casing, valves on s 4id Stem. fm' alzfnntfaly closing ille gleam inlet :md 'vent open n 'wlw wlw when mm is losed the @flier la Gp .fi Smcml 'mmclet rm Said wservur, si leve? fulcrumd ou :mid bracket, ma

end of said lever pivotally connected with said valve stern and the other end positioned in the path of movement of the arms carried by said Weighted arm and arranged to be a1- ternately engaged thereby, whereby when said Weighted lever is oscillated by the movement of said Hoat,said lever is shifted in a. reverse direction.

2. A direct return'valve for a steam heating system comprising a reservoir connected with the drainage pipe of said system and provided with a pipe leading to the boiler, a valve casing in open communication with said reservoir, said valve casing provided with an inlet for steam under ressure and A#a vent, a hollow bracket prolecting from lsaid reservoir and in open communication with the interior thereof, a rotatable mem ber mounted in the outer end of said bracket, a float in said reservoir, a stem on said ioat connected with said rotatable member, a weighted arm loosely mounted on said rotatable member, a V-shaped tappet rigidly mounted on said rotatable member and disposed so that the furcations thereof alter nately engage said arm for oscillating the same in direct response to the vertical oscillations of said float, a valve stem mounted in said valve casing, valves on said stern/for alternately closing the steam inlet and vent opening whereby when one is closed the other is open, a pair of oppositely disposed arms on said counter-weighted arm, a second bracket on said reservoir, a lever fulerumed on said bracket, one end of said lever pivotally connected with said valve stem and the other end positioned in the path of movement of the arms carried by said weighted arm and arranged to be alternately engaged thereby, whereby when said weighted arm is oscillatcd by the movement of said float, said lever is shifted in a reverse direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM S. ROATH. 

